BMW Group Announces Major Leadership Changes in Australia, Global Divisions

• BMW Group India CEO Vikram Pawah returns to lead Australia and New Zealand operations starting September.
• BMW Group Australia CEO Wolfgang Buechel has been promoted to Vice-President and Head of MINI Global Sales.

Major leadership appointments have been confirmed by BMW Group, with the goal of driving continued growth and transformation in Australia and internationally.

Vikram Pawah, the current CEO of BMW Group India, will return to lead BMW Group Australia on September 1, 2025. Pawah previously held the same position from 2018 to 2020 and is credited with significantly advancing the Group's strategic direction during that time. His reappointment is viewed as a move to capitalize on his successful track record in market growth and electrification.

Under Pawah's leadership in India, BMW and MINI have experienced consistent year-on-year sales growth, with BMW establishing itself as a market leader in the premium electric vehicle segment. 

He unveiled the company's electrification strategy in India, leading the launch of BMW's first fully electric vehicle and expanding the EV lineup. During his tenure, BMW Motorrad also established itself as one of India's fastest-growing premium motorcycle brands.

Meanwhile, current BMW Group Australia CEO Wolfgang Buechel has been promoted to Vice-President and Head of MINI Global Sales. Buechel will be based at BMW Group headquarters in Munich and will be in charge of shaping MINI's global sales strategy, overseeing market performance, and identifying new opportunities for the brand's growth.

Buechel's five-year term in Australia, which begins in 2020, has seen BMW achieve significant success. After more than ten years, the brand reclaimed its position as Australia's leading premium automotive marque in 2023. 

His focus on electrification paid off, with BMW's EV sales share reaching 22%, more than doubling the national industry average and cementing the brand's leadership in the premium electric segment.

Under Buechel, BMW and MINI increased sales volumes and market share while also improving customer satisfaction and brand value. His leadership extended beyond commercial success, forming key partnerships in arts, culture, education, and sports, including with Opera Australia, the PGA, WPGA, RMIT, and the University of Melbourne.

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Jean-Philippe Parain, Senior Vice President for BMW's Region Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa, welcomed the appointments, saying, "Innovation and transformation are central to our global strategy. Both Vikram and Wolfgang have produced outstanding results, and I am confident that they will continue to drive success in their new roles."